What does SCADA stand for?
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
SCADA systems are essential for managing complex industrial processes.
What are the primary functions of SCADA systems?
Acquires data from sensors and devices, presents data to human operators for decision-making
This involves both data acquisition and supervisory control.
In which industries are SCADA systems primarily used?
Utility industries such as electric power transmission and distribution, water distribution, oil and gas pipelines
SCADA systems are critical for monitoring and controlling these utilities.
What is the role of control centre computers in SCADA architecture?
Provide an interface for human operators to process information from field instrumentation
This processing allows for effective decision-making in real-time.
What are Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) used for in SCADA systems?
To collect data from field instrumentation sensors and measurement devices
RTUs play a key role in data acquisition for SCADA.
How do SCADA systems ensure reliable communication?
Utilize a diverse range of communications bearers, often with primary and backup bearers
This redundancy helps maintain traffic delivery to distant sites.
What is the purpose of historians in SCADA systems?
Records time-based process data such as production status, device status, alarms, messages, and performance monitoring
Historians help in maintaining operational efficiency and historical analysis.
What types of historians are mentioned in relation to SCADA?
- Operational historians
- Enterprise historians
Operational historians manage plant operations, while enterprise historians provide management information across multiple operational historians.
What database systems are typically used for managing historian data?
Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and some proprietary databases
This choice depends on the specific requirements of the SCADA application.
What factors influence the amount of data stored in historians?
- Size and complexity of the process
- Frequency of data capture
- Retention policy
- Analysis requirements
These factors determine how much and what type of data is retained.
What are some threats to SCADA systems?
- Fewer autonomous devices reduce robustness
- Remote transmission increases attack surface
- Historians are attractive targets for attackers
These vulnerabilities highlight the need for robust security measures.
True or False: SCADA systems have more autonomous devices than Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
False
SCADA systems typically feature fewer autonomous devices compared to DCS.
Fill in the blank: SCADA is ______ driven.
event
This characteristic emphasizes its responsiveness to real-time events.
What is a key characteristic of the transmission methods used in SCADA systems?
Uses a number of remote transmission methods
This diversity allows for flexibility in data communication.
